Rogue Rider

Lords of Deliverance #4

by Larissa Ione

Jillian Cardiff came to this remote mountain town to forget the demon attack that almost killed her. Instead, she rescues-and falls for-a gorgeous stranger who has no memory of anything other than his name. Handsome, charming, and protective, Reseph seems like the kind of man whom Jillian can trust. But with hints of a troubling history of his own, he's also the kind of man who can be very dangerous . . .

Reseph may not know why he mysteriously appeared in Jillian's life, but he knows he wants to stay. Yet when Jillian's neighbors are killed, and demon hunters arrive on the scene, Reseph fears that he's putting Jillian in danger. And once it's revealed that Reseph is also Pestilence, the Horseman responsible for ravaging the world, he and Jillian must face the greatest challenge of all: Can they forget the horrors of a chilling past to save the future they both desire?

Genres: Paranormal Romance, Paranormal, Romance, Demons, Angels, Fantasy, Urban Fantasy

432 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Air Force veteran Larissa Ione traded in a career in meteorology to pursue her passion of writing. She has since published dozens of books, hit several bestseller lists, including the New York Times and USA Today, and has been nominated for a RITA award. She now spends her days in pajamas with her computer, strong coffee, and supernatural worlds. She believes in celebrating everything, and would never be caught without a bottle of Champagne chilling in the fridge…just in case. She currently lives in Wisconsin with her retired U.S. Coast Guard husband, her son, a rescue cat named Vegas, and her very own hellhounds, a King Shepherd named Hexe and a Belgian Malinois named Duvel.

Reviews

[Jillian Stein · Rating 5 out of 5]

http://www.read-love-blog.com/2012/11...

Before I begin my review, I have to tell you I am a bit biased when it comes to this book. You see, I was the winner of the “name a character and book dedication” prize Larissa had offered in a charity auction back in March of 2011. Originally is was to have the book dedicated to the winner and name a minor character in either the third or fourth book in this series but Larissa, being the amazingly kick ass person she is, gave me the option to wait and name the heroine of this book. After pinching myself to be sure I wasn’t dreaming and jumping around my house while screaming like a loon, I obviously chose to wait…and picked my own name for Reseph’s heroine. This book holds a special place in my heart, not only for having a truly amazing personal story behind it, but because it lived up to every possible expectation I had. And so, without further delay, here is my review…..

This is the fourth book in Ms. Ione’s Lords of Deliverance series and is Reseph’s story.

Pestilence had finally been stopped. Through the efforts of Reseph’s family, he had been ended with a fatal blow to the heart with Deliverance, a thousands year old dagger thought to be the only weapon powerful enough to use against the Horsemen. Only Reseph wasn’t exactly dead. Pestilence may be gone for now but Reseph was in Sheoul-gra trapped in a prison not only made of stone, but prison in his own mind being terrorized by the horrific memories of what Pestilence had done. Memories of death and torture, and knowing that his hands did it all, were proving to be to most horrific punishment imaginable. A punishment that Reaver, their heavenly watcher, couldn’t stand to see. Reaver knew Reseph and he knew that Reseph was worthy of a second chance….and he decided right then that he was going to give Reseph that chance no matter what the consequences were.

Jillian Cardiff is trying to get past the nightmare she left behind. After a horrific demon attack that nearly left her for dead, and being let down by the man she loved, the solitary life she leads now was a welcome escape. All she needed was her animals and the snowy mountains…until she literally stumbles across an injured stranger in the snow and decides that she can’t turn her back on him.

After nursing the stranger back to health, he awakens to find he has no memory of whom he is or how he came to be buried in snow in the mountains of Colorado. Together they will have this mystery to solve and together they will have to heal one another of the emotional scars they both have endured and learn to be resilient once again.

I know what some of you may be thinking. You’re thinking that there is no way Reseph deserves a chance at redemption and he should rot in Sheoul-gra where he belongs. From the very beginning I disagreed with that and I knew that if anyone can change the minds of the naysayers, it was Ms. Ione. From the very beginning of this story, we get to see the untainted Reseph, thanks to his amnesia. The man who is playful and cheeky despite his lack of memory…the man who clearly would have never done anything that had been done when Pestilence had been at the wheel. This is the man who his siblings had been fighting to save since the very beginning. His journey has so many facets…self-loathing, retribution, self-discovery, acceptance and forgiveness. It was both heart breaking and heart warming to watch his struggle.

Jillian’s journey was equally as fascinating. She has had her share of heartbreak and despair that has led her to build up walls that no ordinary man will be able to penetrate. Thankfully, Respeh isn’t ordinary in any sense of the word!

I cannot express how much I loved this book. I finished it in 24 hours because I just had to see what happened next. I laughed, I cried, I got weird looks at the dentist for my audible gasps. Ms. Ione created such memorable characters and the moments that they share are ones that readers won’t soon forget. The emotions from Reseph and Jillian practically leap off of the page. This was the absolute perfect ending to Pestilence…and beginning to Reseph. Thank you, Ms. Ione, for an unforgettable story and for being the amazing author and storyteller that you are.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ressup (the former Pestilence) has been left in a snowbank with no memory of his former life or any of the plagues he’s unleashed on the world. He vaguely remembers his name and can remember how to do things like drive a snowmobile or that he likes foods, but nothing concrete about who he is. He’s found by Jillian, who was injured horribly after one of his demon attacks. Great tension and drama as you’re just on the edge of your seat waiting for one of them to figure it out, or for the people from Ressup’s former life who are hovering ever nearer to finally find him.

Equally intriguing in this one are the scenes between angel Reaver and Harvester, who hasn’t exactly been a nice girl towards Reaver or anyone else the last few books. Will be interesting to see what becomes of that plot line in the upcoming story arcs.

All of this tension built up to a very exciting conclusion to the 4-book arc of the Riders of the Apocalypse series. Will be cool to see where the overall series goes next.

[Alex is The Romance Fox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally…..we have Reseph’s story!!!

After being the most malevolent and evil character in the previous 3 books, I was questioning how the author would be able to turn him into an endearing romantic hero that I could bond with as much as I have done with the other three Horsemen. Boy, did she do it!!!

We discover the real Reseph that his siblings always spoke about….the laid-back, loving, caring and fun person…and who ever guessed…a poet living inside him…forget Lord Byron, John Keats…Reseph’s words are sheer poetry…

Reseph is mysteriously found naked and unconscious in the woods by Jillian Cardiff. She’s been hiding since being attacked by demons and though she’s hesitant at first, takes him into her home.

When he wakes up, he has no memory of who he is. But as time passes, they begin to grow close together and fall in love. He doesn’t know why he’s appeared in Jillian’s life, but he knows that he wants to be with her. But what happens when his memory returns? Will it change their feelings? Despite those worries, they decide that their bond will overcome anything that happens in the future….carpe Diem……

But soon evil enters their peaceful life….demons attack Jillian’s next door neighbors and when demon hunters turn up; he knows that Jillian’s life is in danger. He refuses to leave her alone.
So, Jillian is not a weakling….she faces up to her fears and danger -

And when Reseph’s memories return and he finds out the horrors he has caused when he was controlled by Pestilence….he doubts if he can ever redeem himself…will he be able to fix all the bad and wrong things he’s done in the past? And how can Jillian still love him when she discovers that part of him?

Jillian turned out to be a heroine of worth. She had loved and trusted him before she knew of his past and that was never going to change. She knew the real Reseph. She would make any sacrifice, do anything to help Reseph overcome the danger and evil demons that were determined to destroy the goodness inside of him……and like Reseph lyrically told her…

…she will help him put things right, help him with gaining his family’s trust again and ultimately help him stop the Apocalypse.
The romance between Reseph and Jillian was sweet, delightful….but hey, don’t worry….steamy too….the sex scenes were pretty sexy and sensual…… their chemistry was intensely deep and I was happy that we finally have Reseph back – the lovable and fun person…..and that he has found peace and love in his life.
Lords of Deliverance is an incredible and engaging series and the author has created captivating characters, heroic heroes, unique and vivid worlds that make it a thrilling and enjoyable read.

This book wraps up the stories of the Horsemen but with the next book being about Reaver (who has played a large part in the four books) and wicked Harvester…am sure we will be seeing more of Ares, Limos, Thanatos, Reseph and their families again.

Can’t wait!!!
My favorite quote:

[Aly is so frigging bored · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC thanks to Netgalley/Grand Central Publishing
Publishing Date: November 20, 2012
Rating: +++5/5 stars
Light spoilers for those who haven't read the other books in the series

One of THOSE books

I have to tell you guys that I love everything that I’ve read from Larissa Ione, every book is better than the last. I was expecting to be so blown away by this book, but all the revelations have left me open-mouthed.

This book’s main characters are Resph and Jillian. Resph doesn’t remember who he is, doesn’t remember where he’s from, doesn’t remember if he has family… actually the only thing he DOES remember is his name. He’s been dumped in the middle of nowhere, in a snow storm, naked(and boy is he naked!). That’s exactly how our Jillian finds him and takes him in, in her home. As you can imagine this generates a host of problems and dilemmas, but most importantly, a beautiful relationship that springs up between tow very deferent people.

I have to confess that usually heroines tend to get on my nerves(my friends haven’t forgiven me from my Kate Daniels ranting yet), but Jillian I actually liked. She is tough, she survive with her mind (mostly) intact from an awful demon attack and her spirit undamaged. She’s funny, sarcastic and managed to take in a complete, intimidating stranger and finds in herself the confidence to trust another man again, even after her deplorable track record.

Resph is easy to love even if we remember what his other half did when it/he was in the front row seats. Before the breaking of his seal he was a devil-may-care playboy that went through women like through socks, so it’s amazing to see how grown up and responsible he can be. I loved to read about his and Jillian’s relationship and the way he started to make things better, trying to repair what Pestilence broke in little, tiny pieces.


Explaining perfectly all the relationships in this series

Besides the great hero and heroine this book also had an amazing supporting cast. Seeing the other characters after the Apocalypse has been averted is a little bit deconsecrating. I would say more about what the Horsepeple and their families were doing, but then I would spoil the other people’s fun.

The revelations in this book were mind boggling. I suspected them, but when they really happened I was still astounded. Larissa Ione has a way of resolving some things, while, at the same time, leaving a lot of questions behind.

All in all this was another great installment in the “Lords of Deliverance” series and I can’t wait to read another book by one of my favorite authors, Larissa Ione.


Bonus: what I really think about all those Aegi… guys(so wanted to say another noun here)

PS: Some of my favorite quotes are in the status updates :)

[Sophia Triad · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely hated HATED HATED Reseph/Pestilence in the previous books.

When his seal was broken, he became the worst enemy of the humankind spreading various horrible diseases all over the world and killing millions of people. Horrible deaths!

Rogue Rider is the book about his redemption.
In the last book, he has disappeared from the face of earth. In this book he has no memory, no name, no past. Since he used to be a good guy before he became the most evil creature on Earth, the loss of his memory is a blessing. He will not like himself when he remembers who he used to be.

So, when Jillian finds him naked and unconscious near to her isolated home and takes him in, he does not really try too hard to remember. Especially when the two of them starting falling in love.

“Can you handle not knowing who I was? … Can you deal with the man I am now?”
“Yes,” she whispered in a husky rasp. “Oh, yes.”
“Good,” he said, lowering his mouth to her throat. “Because the man I am now is who I want to be. Forever.”

You may say that Jillian is a bit too compliant and innocent in the beginning. She does not really think of the fact that she was attacked by a Demon before and that now she wants to be left alone and forget.
She falls in love too fast, without knowing anything about the past of this beautiful stranger.
But Reseph before he became Pestilence, used to be the most lovable of the four horsemen. He has a gift with words, he knows how to love to be tender, and he knows how to make someone feel unique. And he really likes Jillian.
Naturally his past will come and find him even at this isolated place. Jillian will soon find out that there is something worse than the demon that hunts her. And that is the Master of all Demons.

The book is full of revelations for the four horsemen and the people around them. We learn:
-Who is the four horsemen’s daddy
-Who is Harvester’s daddy

The book is more about forgiveness, acceptance and romance and less about epic battles:
“I feel like I’m finally whole. I’m five thousand years old,” he rasped. “But the day you found me in the woods, that’s when my life started.”

After I finished it, I cannot really say that I totally forgave Reseph. But I think I have accepted a little his actions.

[Luffy Sempai · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to review this book while unaware as to what guys and girls of my age - or younger - think of it. During most of the book I imagined myself giving Rogue Rider 4 stars. I'm now giving it a perfect score. Oddly, it's not because the final chapters improved. It's because seen in its entirety, the book is a seamless triumph in storytelling.

The story is massive in scope. I'm not talking about the stakes in the story. I'm referring to the epicness, the sprawling narrative, backed by a cast of what seem like thousands. Despite that, there is little confusion about who is who here. The relevant information is fed discreetly. Sometimes it is repeated in a much later paragraph, without being obvious. The vocabulary is without pretense, but is still rich. The transition from the best bits is smooth. There is always a threat of things occurring. There's never a moment of respite.

The characters. Well I haven't read the three previous books in this series. Both main characters here appeared in previous tomes. Jillian is a normal girl. Reseph is an immortal, angelic demon. Not surprisingly, he's the one most difficult to bond with. As a straight guy, I felt a cautious acceptance only, for Reseph. He's physically like a perfect version of a Scandinavian god. One sentence summed up how special Reseph was. I mean the description of his eyelashes. That and how women would kill to have hair like his. Furthermore, Reseph shared his body with an evil alter ego. I'm far from seeped in Biblical lore. Which is why I cannot confirm how much liberty the writer took regarding the horseman's abilities and looks.

The four horsemen live on earth but they took care to make their home like heaven. Except for our hero, all three horsemen of the apocalypse are married. I'm hazy here, but it seems all are married to humans. The humans may, I think, be immortal as a result. The author mirrors what we'd have liked in an ideal world. She is good. She makes Jillian, a normal girl with many physical and mental scars, the consort of the half angelic and half demonic hero. Oh, and hell is called Sheoul. How can one not like this book?

[Neyra ♦ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ah.Fucking.Mazing!!! *Spoiler Alert, might contain a spoiler from a previous book..*

For Reseph, First Horseman of the Apocalypse, life as he knows it, is over. Having been the horseman whose seal broke and almost ushering in the End of Days, Reseph's memory has been wiped clean, and he's been sent to the human world to start over his life, to heal from the torment of Pestilence's actions over the last year. For Jillian, living in the remote mountains of Colorado is her safe haven. She's come here to forget the troubling past she experienced at the hands of demons during the impending apocalypse, but she never expected to rescue a sexy stranger whose name is the only thing he remembers about himself. As the bond between Reseph and Jillian grows strong, demons are attacking the locals near Jillian's cabin, and Reseph fears he's more dangerous than he and Jillian are willing to believe.

Rogue Rider is one of those stories that if you're like me, a big baby, you'll be sobbing your heart out at every turn of the page. It's no surprise I'm a HUGE Larissa Ione fan, so maybe I'm a little biased when it comes to reviewing Rogue Rider ;) But there is no mistaking the talent Larissa Ione has for her world-building, story-telling, and abosolutely amazing characters. I became a fan of Larissa in 2011 when I began reading Pleasure Unbound and fell madly in love w/ her Daemonica series, which features Sex-Demons running an Underworld Hospital. How HOT is that? By the end of Demonica, I was devasted, but soon after found out Ione wasn't even close to being done w/ her world. And so, the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse were introduced!

From the beginning of the series in Eternal Rider, we find out that Reseph's seal has broken, and he is the first of the Horsemen to become trully and unspeakably evil. What my concern was throughout the whole series was, how can Larissa Ione redeem Reseph, or as he was known throughout the series, Pestilence? There is no way the grotesquely evil being could be redeemed, at least not in my eyes, but Reseph? Reseph's heartbreaking pleas to end his life, in the seconds he was able to break through to his brothers and sister, they completely won me over. Maybe I'm some sort of masochist, but I loved Reseph as the villain in this series. God but Pestilence was beyond brutal. Not borderline asshole, no, he made assholes look like loveable kittens! I was skeptical about Reseph's book too. How would she turn an evil being into a loving man ? Oh, but the end of Lethal Rider shocked us all I'm sure!

The one thing I'll say I hated so much about Rogue Rider is that the key players of the Demonica world were missing, save for Kynan (whom I love). But I understood, this story was about Reseph's healing Still, I would have loved to see the characters and catch up with them. And okay, I'll admit, I would also have loved to have seen more action than suspense, but the Apocalypse had been averted, there wasn't much to fight about.

Jillian Cardiff was a refreshing heroine. Strong and independent, determined not to depend on any man but definitely not immune to a sexy stranger who shows her compassion like she's never known before. Having survied a demon attack during the chaos that had ensued three months earlier, Jillian has isolated herself from the world. But all that changes one evening when she rescues a sexy naked stranger on the snowbank. I loved how her and Reseph's relationship developed slowly. Yes, she was instantly attracted to him, (who wouldn't be), but she didn't give in to his sexual innuendos. She got to know him first, which is always a plus in my book! And wow, finding out about her demon attack was brutal and heartbreaking. This woman is a fighter, and I loved her for Reseph!

Reseph's character was awesome! We'd read about how before his seal broke, Reseph was the playfull Horseman. The one who was always happy and making sure everyone was taken care of, and of course, that he was the whore of the quartet! xD Smh, THIS was the Reseph I was dying to meet!! Strong, lethal, playful and funny. What a sexy combination ;) Oh his story is shattering.. from the hurt he feels when Jillian leaves him, to the pain and misery he puts himself through when he recovers his memories. I know a simple apology will never make up for the hurt he'd put his loved ones, and the world through, but you'd think his family would understand a little better.

What an interesting turn of events regarding the Horsemen's watchers, the angels and demons, and all that's in between. There were so many lose ends tied up in this book, but the question everyone is dying to know still remains, WHAT ON EARTH happened to Yenrieth?! ..I'm sad to hear this will be the last of the Deliverance books, but I cannot wait to reread this series and fall in love all over again! ^_^

*ARC provided by Grand Central Publishing via Netgalley



What REALLY happened the morning of September 14th, when I received Rogue Rider:

So I wake up Friday morning to a phone call from work, apparently my shifts got cancelled this weekend.. and it's been a pretty shitty week, so I didn't take the news well.. after about 10 minutes i got out of bed to check my emails.. and I'm sitting there like:



just.. you know, waiting for my pc to load... When I finally get into my acct, I see an email from Netgalley and UNHOLY HELL!!! IT'S ROGUE RIDER!!!!!





My brain's gone into an all out meltdown like, "This is really happening!" I was dying.




If you've talked to me at some point, you know, or at least understand that Larissa Ione is one of my favorite authors, and that her Daemonica world is by far one of my favorite in the PNR genre. She's one of my go to authors so of course, I drop everything else to read her books! Just about every emotion was wrenched out of me while reading about Reseph & Jillian. I couldn't control myself..

Reseph naked in the snow?




OMG, She leaves him? :o




:x *Gasp* Oh no, HE REMEMBERS!!!



THANATOS!!!!! ♥ *swoon... faints* &heart;



Awe, They'll help despite their wariness of him *sniff* :')




OMG!! So what REALLY happened to Yenrieth? Why aren't we told?!? -____-

[image error]


..It..it's... OVER???




Excuse me... I need a moment...









*Sobs not so quietly in a corner*

[Sharon ∞❥ is an emotional book junkie ❥∞ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jillian Cardiff has moved to the home of her deceased parents in isolated Colorado following a demon attack. One day she stumbles across a naked man buried in the snow. When he finally awakes, he has no memory of who he was other than his name possibly being Reseph.

I'm just going to say it...as much as I liked this book, I was really disappointed!! What happened to the bad boy that we have been tempted by and teased about since book one?? There was no way I was expecting FARMER JOHN!!! And while certainly, there is an appeal to the happy go lucky and very much hunky good ol' boy, I really wanted some of the bad boy. Not the crazy, killing machine bad boy...just a teeny, tiny, bit of him. Oh well.

I do have to say that Reseph was really enjoyable especially since we have not gotten to know him so far...just heard things about him from his brothers and sister. But...was he redeemable? Hmmmm, I'm not so sure. Yes, when he gets his memory back (and I loved how that happened), he is shaken to his core as he should be but I just felt it was too convenient and he got off too easy.

I did like Jillian...she's gone through some rough things and as hard as it was, she didn't cater to Reseph. She really tried to fight the pull she had to him. Again, I felt she too accepted Reseph's Pestilence side way too easily but I thought the connection between her and Pestilence was brilliant ~ and creepy.

There are some good steamy scenes although I felt kind of let down on this as well. LI is known for doing unusual activities and I didn't really get that in this one. I was surprised (in a good way) with all the condom use but thank goodness for that...who knows where all that thing has been!!

There were a few new characters, namely Tracker and Revenant, that were intriguing but we mostly get a lot of information and updates about the prior characters, especially Limos (Yay!). No appearance by my favorite, Wraith, but we do get a few lines about him...loved the one about Cujo. I was shocked at what happened to Lilith...not that I can blame Reseph. And I really came to like Harvester more! A little crazy finding out about her father and I can't wait to read more in the next book.

It was wonderful how all the animals loved Reseph and it was funny how he changed Doodle's name to Fang-Doodle! I thought it was really sweet about Sammy and Conquest. And I loved his bird carving...I wish Jillian wouldn't have done that.

Things are set up quite nicely for Reaver's book and we finally get the confirmation on who he is. Included at the end of this book is the The Apocalypse: The Lords of Deliverance Compendium that includes the short story, Eternal Damnation. If you want to be surprised, wait to read it after this book. If not, enjoy some good information regarding Yenreith and Verrine.

Definitely a great addition and not one to miss if you enjoy this series. Reaver's book can't come out soon enough!


Favorite lines:

♥ “Oh, hell, no. I saw you with the rifle.” He glanced over at her, and his voice went a notch deeper. “It was f*cking hot. I love a badass female.”

♦ “You named your son’s pet after a rabid monster dog?”

“No,” Thanatos growled. “Wraith did. Bastard taught the pup to respond to Cujo, and we couldn’t get him to respond to anything else after that.”

♦ “Oompa-Loompa Land?” He shook his head. “No way. Orange people give me the creeps. I don’t even like fake tans. I’d never be their king.”

♥ "I feel like I’m finally whole. I’m five thousand years old,” he rasped. “But the day you found me in the woods, that’s when my life started.”

[Ren Puspita · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC version provided by NetGalley

More than 5 stars and Top Read 2012!

To sum my feeling right now after read this? This one is purrrrrrrrfect!

A perfect ending and HEA for Reseph and his ladylove Jillian Cardiff. I really hate Pestilence and what he do in the past. But, I can't help fallin' over head to Reseph. Rakish, charming but also make me want to hug him because he really regret his mistakes (as Pestilence) and want to start a new life. Jillian Cardiff is not bad and I'm glad she's so strong and not annoying. Rogue Rider also the hottest and steamiest book of this series. You always can rely to how Larissa Ione write steamy sex scenes! And she make Reseph bare chested for 1/3 part of this book. Thanks Larissa, I will always worship you for this! :P

And a fact about the Horsemen's father? I know it from the start, but still kinda surprised! Some problems still unsolved yet, and Larissa said the next Lords of Deliverance/Demonica (which is Reaver's book) will come Fall next year. Ekkk,I don't think I can't wait any longer! Reading Rogue Rider almost remind me when I read Sin Undone. I feel really sad.I want the characters to have their happy ending, but its hard to say goodbye for them :').

BTW even I had read the e-ARC version, I will buy the paperback as well. This book is worth it to read, and to collect! (beside I already have Eternal Rider, Immortal Rider and Lethal Rider on paperback ;))

Now, if only Larissa can write faster.... :(


Cover talk :

Why UK version always look cool? :(

Its not that US version bad, but UK version picture the siblings as Four Horsemen perfectly. Even I don't understand why in UK, Reseph have long hair and short in US. But make sense for US version to have shorter hair version, since when Jillian found Reseph, she cut his hair. I'm glad the publisher change the paperback cover.

I like it better than Kindle version (that look like somebody have a bad breath case and someone once mention me the model look like Ricky Martin! o_O). Its captured the connection between Jillian and Reseph. Also show the holiday feeling, since the event on this book happen when Christmas. I also love the change of the color tone. From grey (Ares & Limos) to deep blue (Thanatos) then soft blue and white (Reseph). Its supposed to look cold, but I have warm feeling when see the it :).

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ione does a fantastic job of developing a believable relationship between Reseph and Jillian, even though Jillian seemed too trusting at first. A lot of the book was focused on their relationship and I think that in terms of the romance, this is probably the strongest book of the series. Many readers will be anxiously waiting to see how Ione will redeem Reseph after all the evil he has unleashed on the world. To some, what he does will be unforgiveable, yet Ione expertly weaves a redemption story that will have readers rejoicing. Ione somehow made the ultimate villain into a respectable hero. It was so easy for me to fall prey to Reseph's charms.

Another high point in this book is Ione's stellar worldbuilding. Both complex and alluring, Ione plays up the doom and drama that has become a signature style of hers. The Lords of Deliverance series has definitely become larger, more hard-hitting and more epic with each subsequent installment and with ROGUE RIDER, Ione does not pull her punches. While not all scenes were as detailed as I had hoped for, I found that I was totally entranced by the world she has created. One cannot help but fall headlong into such a compelling thrill ride!

ROGUE RIDER is everything paranormal romance fans could ask for -- dangerous thrills, larger-than-life alpha heroes and exceptional world building that is mixed in with some great humor, heart and horror. Better clear off more room on your keeper shelf!

Read this review in its entirety at Fresh Fiction

[Naoms · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can only imagine how awesome this book is going to be. With everything he's done as pestilence. I can imagine what his falling in love and having to atone for his sins. Then having to make up with his siblings! Will make Lore and Sin bonding with the Sem brothers look like cake.

UPDATE: Actual Review

Originally posted on Confessions of an Opinionated Book Geek

“Rogue Rider” is the book that every fan of the ‘Lords of Deliverance’ series has been waiting for. From the first moment Pestilence struck out at his siblings, redemption seemed impossible and reconciliation was unspeakable. How could they possibly forgive him for the things that he has done? As the series progressed and we got into the heads of Ares, Limos and Thantanos we learned more of whom Pestilence was before his seal broke. Before he was Pestilence, he was their brother. He was the charismatic, loyal and fun loving Reseph. In the eyes of his siblings, he was the best of them. The one they could rely on, the one who knew their secrets. It’s why he was the most interesting Horseman to make a villain. With everything I learned about Reseph, another idea began to occur to me. The question is not how his siblings could forgive him; the question is how Reseph can possibly forgive himself.

Larissa Ione is very good at making a bad boy, good. In her Demonica series, the youngest Sem brother, Wraith is the hugest mess up. He is irresponsible, rash and extremely sarcastic. Somehow the baby brother seminous demon is the catalyst that saves the world. With this knowledge of Ione’s storytelling skills, I expected a really great story for Reseph. I waited for this book with baited breath and couldn’t wait to get it on my nook.

While I have some issues with this book, as a whole, Ione did not disappoint. The story begins with Reseph. He is out in the snow, he is naked and he has no idea who he is. My initial reaction was, NO! I want to see him face to face with his siblings! And where is Kyan and Arik, where are our supporting characters? Fortunately, Larissa Ione had a very specific plan. She separated Reseph and her readers from the other characters and all the baggage from the first three books. It allows us to momentarily forget that Reseph has Pestilence deep inside him. Without the nonstop hatred of the other characters, it is easy to forget Pestilence. The first third of the book just focuses on Reseph, Jillian and the small two-streetlight town where Reseph begins his new life. It’s actually a brilliant approach. I got to leave the baggage at the door and fall in love with Reseph.

The first third of this book is very calm. There are some grizzly deaths and of course the suspicion of the amnesiac Reseph is there, but for the most part it reads like a contemporary romance where the world just happens to be populated by demons. Then it hits the fan. Supporting characters come back, the aegis is once again plotting and Reseph’s past returns to haunt him.

Experiencing Reseph’s guilt is extremely difficult. On the one hand you know that as Pestilence he did some horrible things and deserves to be punished. On the other hand, you know that Pestilence and Respeh or not the same people. You’re suddenly placed in the shoes of his family. To forgive him or to let him suffer? Redeem him or condemn him?

In the midst of all this the fight for good vs. evil continues and there is a love story. Jillian is a really typical Paranormal Romance heroine. She is scarred, she is alone and she stumbles across a man who draws her in as much as he terrifies her. Jillian has some deep secrets of her own that could throw a wrench in her budding relationship with the damaged Horseman. Still, I liked Jillian. She was as vulnerable as she was strong. She was also extremely loyal and willing to take risks, even as she feared her heart being broken.

The reason this is a 4-star review and not a 5, unfortunately is the ending. It’s just too quick and things happen a bit too easily. Things get really really bad. Like, the end of heaven, hell and everything in between, bad. Then they come up with a plan in 5 seconds, there’s a bit of skirmish and it’s all over. The actual end of conflict, happens so fast, I had re-read the section. I thought I missed something. It gave me whiplash. Then everything is resolved and we’re just waiting for the next book. The ending just didn’t satisfy me. I don’t feel as if the tale is done. Obviously, there is a fifth book coming, but still this particular installment should feel closed.

Beyond that, I enjoyed this book. I love the Lord of Deliverance world and am excited to finally read Reaver’s book. So much is revealed about him in “Rogue Rider,” but still not enough. I want to know everything about his past, why he lost his wings and why they stripped his memory from him. I cannot wait for the fifth installment, unfortunately it’s coming out in a year.

[Elizabeth (Liz) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Almost killed in a demon attack, Jillian Cardiff relocated to a remote mountain town in the hopes of forgetting. If only forgetting were so easy. One day, while gathering firewood, Jillian finds and rescues Reseph, a man who seems to have no memories of his life. He does, though, have an interesting effect on Jillian, and also seems to have some deadly skills.

I've been a longtime fan of author Larissa Ione and her various PNR series. As I've stated before, PNR is not my first love, and an author and story has to be strong and unique for me to read and enjoy the book. This series is one of the better ones, though I do feel as if this entry in the series was not Ione's best effort. For me, there was a lack of excitement and edge. Simply put, this one just didn't hold my attention well.

This is a popular series, and I have no worries that it will continue to do well. However, I don't know that I will be continuing on with it. But, I'll be looking forward to what else this author has in store for us!

3 Stars!


***My thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC.

[❤️Emma Book Lover ❤️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I m always excited about a villain’s redemption book, and here it is, Reseph/ Pestilence comes back on the good side this time.
In the past 3 books hes been Pestilence ( gone evil when his seal got broken) and boy oh boy, he was despicable and just the worse. But the thing is , Reseph ( his normal self) was privy to everything Pestilence did when he was stuck inside his own body with no control over it.
He wakes up in the middle of nowhere with no memory or idea eho he is or what hes done. A good samaritan , Jillian, rescues him and takes care of him. She is licking her wounds after a close call with a terrifying attack that happened when the world was on the verge of Apocalypse.
They get to know eachother and obviously fall hard, but slowly Reseph gets snippets of his memory back and has a breakdown , his 2 brothers and sisters find him and so the grovelling begins. Lots snd lots of grovelling because Pestilence really did a number on everyone.
We learn lots of new things about Reaver 😏 about Harvester 😏 and it seems it’s getting even better.
Love this series!

[Natalie ~ The Biblioholic · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm probably in the minority, but I didn't have a problem with Reseph. I didn't blame the guy for what he did when he was Pestilence and I'm pissed that his family couldn't do better sooner. These Horsemen are prophesied: if their seals break, they turn evil. Reseph's seal broke and he did EXACTLY WHAT WAS PREDICTED. And everyone blames him for not fighting his evil side harder. Poor thing.

So Reaver saved Reseph from certain insanity and our dude had no memory of who he was beyond his name. Jillian finds him unconscious in the snow and takes him home to help him. He miraculously heals quickly and they have an instant connection, despite Jillian's hesitation due to past trauma, and I was just waiting for the other shoe to drop.

And drop it did. Hard.

Pestilence isn't actually gone and all the baddies are trying to get him to resurface. The Aegis losers are still on the loose, believing their way is the right way. Kynan and friends have created DART and I'm guessing they'll be the real good humans for the stories going forward. And the bond between the siblings is an absolute mess. Reseph grows as a person, although he's so much more than a person (half angel and demon, remember?) and I loved how Jillian brought out all of the awesome this male was keeping to himself. My guess about Reaver and Harvester has been confirmed and I'm really looking forward to their story, which I think is next.

Oh and spoiler...

Lilith is gone. But I don't really understand this because she appears in the next gen book, Legacy of Temptation. I guess I'll have to find out in the following books how this is possible.

Seriously, if you are a paranormal romance groupie like I am, you should have started this series already. I do not mind being a fictional Reseph Rider.

[Aileene · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 4th book of TLOD and by golly the first half of the book was just...*bites lower lip*

Now, I have to divide my review into two. The first half and the last half of course.

FIRST HALF

Whilst I wasn't complaining about the heart palpitations and erotic images that were conjured in my head.....

“He pushed up, his shoulders and biceps flexing with power, and looked down at his naked body. “Did we fuck?”
She nearly choked. “No.”
“Why not?”

“I’m going to lay you on your belly and pin your legs tight together while I’m inside you. Ever done that? Makes my thrusts shallow, just teasing your entrance. Only the head of my cock will be fucking you, and you’ll be begging for more, isn’t that right?”

Believe me if the ice bucket challenge was still on - I would've LOADS of videos to share. Reseph is H O T! No inhibitions and no concept of personal space --->TOTAL ALPHA MALE from head down to the cuticles of his manly toes!

....I expected a lot more. You see, from previous books Ms Ione never failed to swarm me with different strong doses of what's happening to every characters in every page. Yes in every page!..and this installment, whilst I got to know the Reseph side of Reseph (who made me giggle, writhed in pleasure and my heart cried) it just focused on him and Jillian. Yes, there were occasional short bursts of attacks and visits from other characters but they weren't nearly satisfying.
If this was just written from another author I would've maintained a tight lipped but I know Ms Ione's potentials and she DOES exceed anyone's expectations.
And with that, first half of the book -- giving it 2.5 stars

LAST HALF

Now, this is where the story had picked up. I was bombarded in all aspects, giving me the kick I was deprived from the first half.
Too many things happened, too many things have revealed. Some answers given but more questions and possibilities have opened. I saw good. I saw bad. I saw pain. I saw hesitations. I saw LOVE won.
As a reader, that was satisfying to the tee.

I couldn't stress enough how good the story is. How UNREAL and EXCEPTIONAL this series is. If you're into PNR and haven't started these START now. If you're not into PNR, give this one a try and read the first book. I assure you, you won't stop with the first installment.
Last half = 4 stars

And this concludes the very stories of each of the four horsemen of the Apocalypse and I'm really glad that the series is nowhere finish as yet.




Verdict: highly recommended
Overall Rating: 4.5 stars
Now grabbing the 5th book *squeals* as I can't wait to venture out what this bad ass angel Reaver has to offer.

[Kelly at · Rating 5 out of 5]

OH MY GOD!!!
LOVED!!!
Love Reseph!!! Love, Love LOVE him!!!!

Full Review:
Okay I have to start by saying Larissa, you are the BOMB!! I love your books. Can you do any wrong? In my eyes that is a big NO!!!
2nd I am so excited that I got a chance to read Reseph’s book early. The waiting has been killing me. I have been in love with Reseph since Sin’s book (so long ago). I just love the heck out this him. Even when he was that bastard Pestilence I still has mad love for his crazy butt. But boy howdy Reseph has a lot to make up for. Some of which he may never be forgiven for by his friends and family. That being said I am not sure how to tell you how much I enjoyed this book without giving away too much or spoilers .

So I will say this:
Reseph’s love interest is someone from his past.
These two are perfect for each other and the only thing that will save them both is each other.
We get to see each of the horseman and how they deal with Reseph being alive and not all of them are happy about it.
We get to see a lot of Reaver (think Fall 2013)
Someone Dies
Secrets are revealed
Mysteries are solved
And not everyone is who you think they are.

How is that for a review? Yes, I know mean.. But if you are a Demonica/Horseman fan you will LOVE Rouge Rider. I think that you will be surprised too by a few things in this book.

I am super excited to see where Larissa takes us in Reavers’ story. It is going to be EPIC *No pressure Larissa*

If you have not read Larissa Ione’s books I would highly recommend you start at the beginning with the
Demonica Series:
#1 Pleasure Unbound
#2 Desire Unchained
#3 Passion Unleashed
#4 Ecstasy Unveiled
#5 Sin Undone

Then move on to the Lords of Deliverance series:
#1 Eternal Rider
#2 Immortal Rider
#3 Lethal Rider
#4 Rouge Rider

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. The following review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

[namericanwordcat · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite book of the Four Horsemen. I love the conflict. The love story is awesome. The arc of the series is spot on. I will reread this one for sure.

I had no issues with Resph because I didn't read the books in order. Ha. Take that! I liked this book enough to read the rest of the series is lovely binge.

The struggle to accept that he was posssed by a demon who did the most horrific of things with his body while he watched is a wonderful internal conflict. He has all the memories of the evilness and worse yet the emotionial memories of the demon who possessed him. Talk about a torture hero.

I think that I have some anger towards his siblings who get it but don't. They easily could have been taken over by thier demons as well but can't seem to truelly fathom the reality. Resph's humility, humanity and growth are why I love him best. My anger is sign of how engage I am in this world.

His heroine is badass. She grows past her fears and hangs in there with a wonderful loving hero.

So good!

[Yodamom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jullian Cardiff's life was forever changed when she was viciously attacked by demons. She retreated from the world moving into the hills of Colorado where she could live secluded from the world. Everything was going safely till one day she found a naked man in a snowbank. His name, Reseph or Pestilence as he is better known has lost his memory and needs her help. Jullian thought her life was changed majorly when she was attacked, ha ha she has not seen anything yet.

Everyone seems to want Pestilence, some to kill him, some to release his wrath back upon the world. Demons look for their master, he must remember who he is. What will happen to the world when he does ? Oh boy, you better hold on because this is one E ticket ride.

Fantastically dark, romantic, hopeful, evil, demonic and yet weirdly sweet. This edition to The Horsemen covers all the emotions. I enjoyed the ride completely. This is not a books to be missed, a few MAJOR secrets will be reviled.

[Glamdring · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was difficult to rate this book because I LOVE this series but to be honest I found the first half of the book quite slow then the last quarter was really good but too short.

Hopefully Reaver's book will hold its promises.

[Bex (Beckie Bookworm) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is a favourite of mine and each book feels distinct and not a copy repeat of the previous one which is a huge plus point. This was another winner and the careful progression of all plot occurrences has been building to this epic moment. Here we see Reseph finally catch a break no longer under the influence of his evil demon side due to his broken seal Reseph gets a reset and a memory wipe courtesy of Reaver.

Dumped in Colorado the Rockies on the Wyoming border Reseph is discovered unconscious and naked in a snowbank. Jillian a girl with her own tormented past discovers the mysterious stranger and though she has definite misgivings takes him into her isolated home. Jillian herself is recovering from trauma during the mayhem of the prior year she was attacked by demons leaving her with both physical and mental scars and is now living isolated and apart from society to assist in her healing.

Reseph has no memory of his past atrocities or previous life he's a blank slate though some specific disturbing snapshots manage to break through occasionally causing him to believe his past may contain something awful and perhaps may be better off staying hidden.

As Jillian and Reseph play house and connect both fall deep but it's not long before this precarious house of cards inevitably comes tumbling down in the form of the past and as demons Angels and horsemen converge Reseph finds himself back reliving the nightmares of his prior actions as Pestalance even worse the Demon is still inside him and just waiting for a weak moment to break free and seize control putting everyone and also the woman Reseph has come to adore in danger.

This was another fabulous read the chemistry between Judith and Reseph was scorching and I loved their connection together. Judith doesn't trust her own judgement when it comes to men due to past baggage and initially, Reseph does seem too good to be true but for once she decides to just go with the flow and it works that is until everything begins to unravel and the truth is shocking and something she could never have imagined.

With his memory back Reseph is a changed man no longer the unattached playboy and commitment-phobe his metamorphosis into Pestalance and then back to himself as Reseph has fundamentally changed him and Judith is the first woman he has allowed himself to develop an attachment for. The horrors in his memories and then his sadness at his family's rejection were bittersweet. He understood the whys of their treatment but it still cut deep and nobody hated Reseph as much as himself and his self-loathing was massive. I never thought I could ever feel sorry for him after previous books but I did Reseph wasn't Pestilence but he still held himself accountable for the demon's many atrocities.

This was as usual well written and an easy read this pushed the agenda further and dropped breadcrumbs and titbits for future books in the series. I'm now incredibly intrigued regarding Reaver and Harvester and though this was actually a reread it's been so long since I initially read this series it feels brand new. I definitely recommend reading this whole series from the beginning it's seriously amazing and a firm favourite of mine.



Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
www.beckiebookworm.com

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally posted at http://fictionvixen.com/review-rogue-...

When I pick up a new book by Larissa Ione I always feel like I’m returning home. After all, she is one of the first authors to ignite my love for the PNR genre and I cannot name you one book that has not blown me away with her riveting storytelling. Rogue Rider is no exception and once again Ms. Ione allows us to escape into a world I find myself never wanting to leave.

“His demon isn’t dead. It’s merely locked up.”

Rogue Rider picks up immediately after book three, Lethal Rider. Reseph, one of the four Horsemen of the Apocalypse was the first to break his seal, becoming the evil Pestilence. Since book one, Pestilence has unleashed death and destruction in order to bring about the end of the world. Reaver, fallen angel and watcher of the horsemen, held the ability to destroy Pestilence with the Wormwood dagger but knew that in doing so, he would also kill Reseph. Instead he provided the other three horsemen with the Deliverance dagger which they believed would kill Pestilence. Once he is stabbed and left for dead, his soul is sent to Sheoul to be tortured for eternity. But Reaver makes a deal with the devil for Reseph’s release and subsequently takes his memory and sends him away. Reseph now finds himself naked in the middle of a snowstorm with no memory of who he is or where he is from.

Jillian Cardiff lives a solitary life, by choice, in the mountains of Colorado. After surviving an attack of demons that left her for dead she longs for nothing more than the quiet, secluded life she she leads with her farm animals and her cabin in the remote woods. Jillian stumbles across Reseph naked in the snow near her home. Shocked, cautious but mostly curious, Jillian knows she cannot leave him to die and brings him back to her cabin. Once Reseph awakens, he is confused and frustrated due to the amnesia but Jillian is a calming presence which he clings two and together they set out to solve the mystery of who he is and why he was left in the mountains for dead. Little do they know that there is a far greater evil than the demons from their past and Reseph will face his greatest battle in destroying said evil while trying not to destroy himself.

“We both have demons, Jillian. I just don’t know what mine are yet.”

Larissa Ione stated long before the release of Rogue Rider that Reseph’s book would be lighter and sexier. This proves true and is a refreshing change coming out of the emotional turmoil of Lethal Rider. I always question how Ms. Ione will redeem such a flawed, unlikeable character and once again she succeeds in the transformation of Pestilence back to Reseph. In spite of all the evil Pestilence wrought upon the world and his family, like his sister Limos, I always believed there was something special buried inside the ugliness. I’m a sucker for the bad boy in need of redemption and Reseph was that from the start of this series, therefore I’ve always had a soft spot for his insanely magnetic personality. His character is multi faceted and alluring to witness. Caveman and predatory, playful but aggressive, tender yet powerful, Reseph exudes all of these qualities and more. Reseph in essence has a split personality with the alternate evil Pestilence teetering below the surface. Once Reseph starts to regain his memory and remembers the destruction he unleashed as Pestilence, it weighs heavily on him emotionally. We begin to see real self-doubt and vulnerability to his character. This is where Jillian character shines. While she is not exceptionally unique or exuberant, she is steady, strong, level headed and believes in the goodness of Reseph. She exhibits a quiet, inner strength and that is what Reseph draws on in order to fight Pestilence’s return. She is an encourager and a caregiver but has fun and flirty qualities that balance her realistic nature.

“Naked is very comfortable.”

“Maybe, but it’s also very distracting.”

He grinned. “I distract you?”

“I’m not answering that. Your ego has no need of more stroking.” She arched an eyebrow at him. “And don’t tell me you have something else I can stroke.”

Reseph absolutely has no filter when it comes to his thoughts and Jillian really holds her own with him. It was so refreshing to see their relationship develop because while darkness surrounded them, it was not a part of who they were as a couple. Both characters are in need of their own healing and there is a mutual understanding of that which they share.

Finally, the sexual tension is potent and sizzling. Reseph is after all the most sexual horseman:

“Reseph’s Riders,” he said miserably. “My groupies are called Reseph’s Riders.” He hung his head, staring into his lap, and he was suddenly ashamed of his entire life. “Jillian, I was a total whore.”

He’s hot, horny, irresistibly charming and knows how to please a woman.

He leaned into her and put his lips to her ear. “How long has it been since you came so hot, so furious, so fucking intense, that you forgot your own name?”

Oh, God. “Never,” she whispered. “You?”

“I can’t remember,” he murmured huskily, “but ask me in a few minutes and I’ll have an answer.”

He also has multiple orgasms. Yes, you heard me right. Sextacular! Color me crazy but I had the song “Pony” by Ginuwine on constant rewind in my head while reading Reseph doing the nasty. That song captures the grit and grind I imagine Reseph brings to the bedroom!

Reseph’s chemistry with Jillian is passionate and arousing to witness. As always, Ms. Ione masterfully writes some of the hottest sex scenes that scorch the pages along with memorable intimate moments between her characters.

“I want you under me. I want to claim you, get myself all over you. And as much as I’d love to mount you right here in public, right now—and I think in my past, I would have—I never want anyone to see you like that but me.”

What completely sold me on Jillian’s character is with all the darkness and truthfulness Reseph revealed to her, she didn’t care what he was from the past. Jillian saw the person Reseph was in the present. She knew that his caring nature outweighed the evilness from his past and therefore possessed a determination to make him believe in what she could already see. Her love and assurance of Reseph’s inner goodness is what saves them both in the end.

Fans of the Lord’s of Deliverance series will not be disappointed as Ms. Ione brings all the action, grit, snark, fun and intoxicating sexual chemistry readers have come to love in this amazing world.

Reseph’s saddle is waiting…come and jump on it!

[layla is a picky reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

*ARC provided by Grand Central Publishing via Netgalley

My rating: 3.75/5
First line: “It was cold. So fucking cold.”
Favourite quote: “I can’t promise that you’ll like who I was before you found me. But I can promise that my feelings for you won’t change.”
Song of choice: Cradled in Love by Poets of the Fall

I’m not even sure where should I start with. This is Larissa Ione, after all, and those of you who read her series know for a fact that in her books there are many subplots running in the background.

First things first, as you well know, at the end of Lethal Rider the gang managed to undermine Pestilence (Reseph’s Demon half) using Deliverance. Reseph’s soul was condemned to Sheul (a place even worse than Hell) for a centuries old torture. Reaver, the Horsemen’s Watcher, takes pity in Reseph and wipes his memory and sends him back to Earth. That’s where Rogue Rider begins.
Reseph is discovered by a woman called Jillian Cardiff, a woman with demons of her own. Soon, they fall in love but their new found paradise is cut short when they found out about Gethel’s plans to bring Pestilence back.

I actually enjoyed this book very much. I was very curious when I heard about Reseph’s book because so far, we had only seen his bad side. He did hateful things to his family in the past and I absolutely detested him in book #3. I was not prepared to like Reseph. At all. He was charming, funny and way too honest. His monologues didn’t fail to amuse me and I found myself laughing out loud at his lines. He literally says whatever crosses his mind. Larissa Ione’s humour makes it impossible not enjoy yourself while reading.

“What do you think?” he asked.
“Think?” Tanya whispered to Jillian. “I lost that ability about five seconds ago.”
Jillian had too, and she licked her lips to buy some time for her brain to kick in. “You look great, Reseph.”
He stomped his foot and flexed his shoulders. “I don’t like them.”
“We can look for something else—”
“It’s not that. It’s clothes in general. I don’t like them.” He frowned. “Maybe I was a nudist?”
“Sweet mother of hotness,” Tanya whispered. “What magical island did you find him on? I’m booking the next flight.”

What I like about Ms.Ione’s writing style is the fact that, while she can write funny scenes without seemingly trying too hard, her angsty and emotional scenes have the same quality. There were times when I found myself with a nod in my throat or feeling a pang in my chest area while reading something that pulled at my heartstrings. Reseph’s redemption is beautifuly written and I wholeheartedly wanted him to find happiness. Though I confess, I was a bit disappointed in Reseph’s trust in himself. I was surprised when I found out that it had always been that way. He exaggerated the situation and I rooted for Ares when he told Reseph to man up and stop running. Go Ares! (I knew there was a reason why I liked you)

One thing I noticed about this series (and it made me think that it resembles Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Dark Hunters series) is the balance of the world. It is non-existent. Look at poor Harvester. Poor Reaver. These characters get tortured for nothing! They haven’t done a single thing bad and still they are tortured out of their minds. It is not right. The flow of the universe isn’t like this. Think of it like a boomerang. Good gets good. Evil gets evil. Maybe I’m naïve. But the things I’ve learned about Harvester in this book made me believe that she doesn’t deserve what is happening to her right now. And I’m sure there’s more we don’t know about her past that would make me sympathetic towards her.
I’m already a fan of hers even though I said (before Rogue Rider) that (and I quote) “I have this weird feeling that Harvester will annoy me. I'm not particularly fond of her.”
After Rogue Rider I’m something like this: “Say a bad thing about Harvester. I dare you.” *creepy smile*

With that being said, I must that I am very excited about Reaver and Harvester’s story. I’m sure these two had a past together.

[Lauren (Sugar & Snark) · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all if you are a Paranormal Romance Fan and you haven't read Larissa Ione, then where the hell have you been?!
Stop what you are doing and get the first book in her Demonica Series. I promise you won't be sorry.

But a word of warning-Do not read these books out of sequence, you will get seriously confused!

This is the fourth book in the Lords of Deliverance Series which revolves around the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Which in my opinion is one of the most original paranormal ideas I have read in years, if not ever. Oh and one of them is actually a women! (Hows that for a twist!)

Reseph, the fourth horsemen of the Apocalypse (his alter ego is Pestilence) turned evil in the first book, due to a prophecy that I won't get into. He then spent the first three books in this series wreaking havoc on the world. His brothers and sister eventually saved the day, so he is no longer evil but the same layed back guy he always was. Unfortunately he now has amnesia, has no idea who he is or what he has done and is falling in love with a mortal who is terrified of demons!

OK I am the first to admit that anyone with the name Pestilence doesn't sound sexy. But the way Larissa writes it I promise you he is. And some of my favorite parts of this book are just the simple romance between Reseph and Jillian before any of the paranormal element even come into play.

But this book is not hearts and romance, Reseph can't hide from his past and when his memory returns he is tormented by what he has done. The guy has some serious problems. Not only are his former evil cohorts out to destroy him but he has lost the trust of his family(the other horsemen.) And he is still in danger of being possessed by his evil inner demon!

I love Larrisa Iones books and I thought that this one was the best in the series. It was also great to learn more about Harvester and Reaver the Horsemen's two angelic (or not so angelic) Watchers. They are two of my favorite character and are always so mysterious. But best of all I was happy to learn that this is not the last book in the series.YAY!

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the words of Limos: Awesome-sauce!

'Rogue Rider' finishes off the 'Lords of Deliverance' series with a bang! Reseph is the last of the four Horsemen of the apocalypse to get a story - and considering he spent the majority of the series as Pestilence, a despicably, disgusting bad guy everybody loved to hate, Ione had her work cut out for her! But she did it... and did it well!

Reseph will never be my favorite Horseman (I'm a Thanatos girl!) but IMO this story was truly perfect for him. Ione did an amazing job separating and defining Reseph outside of Pestilence. We'd gotten hints of what Reseph was like pre-seal breakage - a prankster playboy with a love for life and little to no responsibility, but that's not who he becomes after being given a second chance. It's a rough road trying to cope with the trail of carnage and grief left by Pestilence, but he finds his anchor in Jillian, a woman who knows first hand what Pestilence was, yet loves and has faith in him regardless.

While I enjoyed Reseph and Jillian's amazing, yet rocky story, the real stars of this show were.... REAVER!!!!!! And HARVESTER!!!!!!!

Every time these two the graced the pages, the air around me practically sizzled with pent up energy - I kid you not! Their chemistry has been sizzling for a while now and it's going to be explosive when it finally comes to a head!

Reaver especially has been stealing the spotlight in Demonica for a while now and 'Rogue Rider' has set the stage for one of my most anticipated books for 2013!!! The wait is going to be torturous, but Reaver-baby I am so ready for you!!

[Jess the Romanceaholic · Rating 5 out of 5]

FINALLY, the series is back to what I loved about Demonica <3

Full of plot twists, big revelations, great character development, and a fantastic HEA.

Oh yeah, and I did I mention confirmation that Demonica is back with Reaver's story next?

Oh yeahhhhhh.


4.5/5 Stars, full review to follow.

[Dinjolina]

I do NOT fucking BELIEVE IT! I KNEW that guy was going to be their father! I KNEW IT...KNEW IT! KNEW IT!!!!

And I HATE it SOOOO muuuuchhhhh!!! Arrrghhh!!!
Fuck, fuck, fuuuuuuck!
(Sorry! I had to curse. And curse. And CURSE.)

*sputters and rips out her hair*

[Naomi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've finally decided to continue this series and I'm just wondering why it took me so freaking long. Rogue Rider was amazing, everything I wanted it to be. Larissa is such a phenomenal writer, I cannot wait to read the next one.

[Julianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed for THC Reviews
"4.5 stars" Rogue Rider is the fourth book in Larissa Ione’s Lords of Deliverance, which is a spin-off or sub-series of her Demonica series, so it’s the ninth overall in the combined series. The Lords of Deliverance is about the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, who are half-angel and half-demon. This book is Reseph’s story, and he’s the last of the Four Horsemen. In the first book, his Seal broke, turning him into his demon alter-ego, Pestilence, who’s been raining devastation and destruction throughout the Earth ever since, as well as terrorizing his siblings throughout the first three books. In the previous book, Lethal Rider, he was finally defeated and sent to Sheoul-gra to be tormented for an eternity for his crimes. However, there’s still the matter of the biblical apocalypse in which the Horsemen are predicted to fight on the side of good, but without Reseph, their chances of victory in the future battle are slim. So, the Horesemen’s Watcher, the angel Reaver, took pity on him, wiped his memory, and sent him back into the human realm in hopes that his mind might heal in time to take part in the next apocalypse. That’s where Jillian, a human woman, finds him naked in the snow and takes him home. Snugged up in her cozy mountain cabin, they gradually grow closer and fall in love. But when Reseph’s siblings find him and he sees them, his memory comes roaring back. Unable to process all the evil things Pestilence did, he goes into a full-on mental breakdown, from which Jillian is the only person who can save him. But once back on even ground, Reseph still has much to atone for, and in the process, he angers some very powerful Sheoulic forces. In order to save them all, he’ll be required to fight in a way that he’s never fought before.

As I mentioned, Reseph (as Pestilence) was basically the evil villain of the first three Lords of Deliverance books. The things he did throughout those stories were so vile and depraved I had a hard time believing that Larissa Ione could sufficiently redeem him to even make me like him, much less fall for him. However, I’m happy to report that she’s a masterful writer who did manage the job quite admirably. When we first meet Reseph again in this book, he’s unconscious and naked in a snowbank in the middle of a snowstorm. Of course, Jillian takes him back to her cabin to warm him up, but when he regains consciousness, he has no memory of who he is except for his name. He turns into the charming, devil-may-care playboy his siblings had always described him as before Pestilence took over, and he and Jillian spend several amazing weeks together, getting to know one another and falling in love, while searching for his identity. Then his siblings show up and he turns into a shell of his former self as the horrific memories of the things he did as Pestilence return to him. Nothing his brothers and sister do to help him have any effect, though, so it takes a major sacrifice from Jillian to rescue him from the madness. From there, he sets about trying to right all the wrongs Pestilence committed, riling up some powerful foes. But Reseph has always been the commitment-phobic party-boy who bailed with things got tough, so he must reach deep inside himself to find the will to fight not only the forces who’ve lined up against them, but also the evil within himself. Even though Reseph didn’t end up being my favorite of the Four Horsemen, I can honestly say that no one could have written a better redemption story for him than Larissa Ione did. He spends some time in utter agony, both physical and mental, as the memories of Pestilence’s crimes bombard him, and once he’s sane again, he unleashes the full holy vengeance and fury of his angelic side to cleanse the world of some very bad people, one in particular that I was very glad to see go. He’s also always kind, gentle, and passionate with Jillian, and through his love for her, finds the will to fight to be a better man than he ever was before. So overall, I was very happy with the way things played out for him.

Jillian, herself, is trying to heal from the wounds of the past. Her parents died in a plane crash, she discovered her ex was already married when he proposed to her, and then early in the apocalyptic events that Pestilence unleashed, she found out the hard way that demons are actually real when she was attacked by one and nearly killed. The trauma left her with disfiguring physical scars and emotional ones as well, so she’s been trying to stay off the grid by living a quiet life in her parents mountain cabin, tending her menagerie of farm animals. One day, while out in the woods hauling a load of firewood, Jillian encounters Reseph, who appears to be half-frozen. She gets him back to her cabin and warms him up, but when he awakens with no memory of who he is, she’s a little uncertain of him even though he’s rather charming. But eventually she realizes that she actually likes having him around, and although they agree to a no-strings affair, she can’t help falling in love with him. When his memory returns, though, and she finally discovers who he really is, it’s a lot for her process, especially when she realizes that the Pestilence side of him was actually responsible for the demon attacking her. Jillian is a loving, giving woman who’s had some hard breaks in life, but for the most part, she hasn’t allowed them to sour her on living. Ever since the attack, she doesn’t feel very confident in herself, but Reseph, the man without his memory, shows her just how strong she really is. Because of that, she’s able to stand up to a lot of different people, including some very powerful ones. She’s also forgiving and completely believes in Reseph even when he doesn’t believe in himself.

Given that Rogue Rider is part of a long-running series, there are a number of common characters. Of course, all of Reseph’s siblings and their families—Ares and Cara (Eternal Rider), Limos and Arik (Immortal Rider), and Thanatos and Regan (Lethal Rider)—are a part of the story. Even though they recognize that Reseph wasn’t truly responsible for the things Pestilence did, they’re still very cautious around him, which I thought was ingenious, because I felt much the same way. Then there are the Horsemen’s two Watchers, Reaver and Harvester, who are extremely important to the story. I can’t say much about their parts without giving away major spoilers, but some bombshell revelations are made about them that I didn’t really see coming. I’ve known for a while that these two would be paired together in the next book of the series, Reaver, but I’d been skeptical of this upcoming match. After finding out all this new information, I’m now super-excited for their story and think it’s probably going to be awesome. Eidolon (Pleasure Unbound) and his siblings show up briefly. We’re introduced to the fallen angel, Revenant, who again, I can’t say much about without revealing spoilers, but he’ll become the hero of Book #12, Revenant. So far, he seems pretty evil and didn’t really do anything to endear me, but if Larissa Ione could redeem Reseph, I have faith that she can redeem Revenant, too. Then there’s Harvester’s Warg slave, Whine, who experiences some major changes in this book. Ever since he made his first appearance in the series, he’s drawn my sympathy, and after all he’s been through, no one deserves an HEA more. I’m so happy that Ms. Ione is working on his book, Bond of Destiny, that’s scheduled for release later this year (2021) in which he’ll be paired with Jillian’s cop friend, Stacey.

Overall, Rogue Rider was yet another wonderful read in the Demonica/Lords of Deliverance series. It’s not my absolute favorite, but it’s still a great story. The characterizations were expertly rendered. Although I didn’t fall for Reseph quite as hard as I did for some of the other heroes of the series, he’s still a well-written character with a believable and satisfying redemption arc. He’s perhaps just a bit too cocky and lacking in seriousness for my taste during the first half of the book, but at the same time, I can’t deny that it’s consistent with how he’d been previously described. I also liked that he treated Jillian very well, but unfortunately, even after he falls for her—the first time he’s ever loved a woman in his five thousand years—he still needed a little push to do the right thing. However, I recognize that it was unfamiliar territory for him and that maybe he was somewhat lacking in confidence in that area. He does overcome it all, though, in a pretty spectacular way, so that I didn’t come away feeling like he was in any way unworthy or uncommitted. Jillian is the perfect foil for him, someone who understands him and believes in him, although certainly not a pushover. She’s definitely a strong woman in her own right. As usual the love scenes are steamy and creative. I think what I loved most about the book, though, was all the major reveals that will carry into the next book and others yet to come. So all in all, this was a great wrap-up to the Lords of Deliverance part of the series. Now I’m extremely eager to pick up Reaver and Harvester’s story very soon. I have a feeling I’m going to love it.

[Stacie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finally got to Reseph's story & it was a grand time!

I mean the whole book was great, but those steamy scenes deserve a full 5 smutty stars just on their own. The chemistry between Reseph and Jillian was amazingly crafted. And on top of this being sexy as hell, Reseph & Jillian were immensely likable, both together and as separate characters.

Reseph has an absurd amount of cockiness exuding from his pores, but the author somehow managed to make that charming in a ridiculous way. Ione did a wonderful job in his "redemption" story. (Even though it was technically Pestilence that did all the super messed up stuff) He went from full-blown evil to someone you'd want to cuddle. Hats off to the author for pulling that off. It was fun to see that transition. Jillian's character was consistently brave throughout all the screwed up things she's been through, and continued to have a fairly level head in the face of danger. I respect that. There are way too many female leads that fall into the damsel in distress trope, but in this case our lead heroine actually helps save the day as well. It was nice.

I also enjoyed some of the reveals that this book offered. Like Reaver finally being confirmed as Papa Horseman, etc. I thought the little twists were well-placed and heightened the already quick pace of the story.

Can I also add, that I LOVE isolation stories and anything that has to do with the hurt/comfort trope? Because Rogue Rider had those things in spades and I ate it up. We get to spend a good fourth of the story in a somewhat isolated cabin in the woods. (In case I didn't grind this idea in enough, I cannot express how much I LOVE this plot device in stories. I will devour this trope in any story, in any genre.) Having Reseph's amnesia as a large focus in the beginning made for an interesting situation for our two love birds to develop feelings for one another. Plus, when he inevitably gets his memories back, we are given a deeper look into his crazed state. Having Jillian basically be his rock and bring him back to sanity was lovely to read about. It just solidifies why they are so good together.

Anyway, I could probably go on forever about how much fun Rogue Rider was to read. I'll stop myself from writing a full essay on this book, but I would highly recommend this one if you like PNR.

[alicat ♡➹♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars, RTC